Conveyer



May 12, 1964 M ENGSETH- 3,132,738

' GONVEYER Filed April 10, 1961 o m l In l ,D l l ,l l r Ll 1D N 1 8` l 9 LL N k 1 I Q l u. l i [l Q- l I1 l m I o A m ,om l r :H Q MARTIN O. ENGSETH 1 f 3;/ I I; l M 9: 2

g 3 i 3 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oli ice 3,132,738 Patented May 12, 1964 3,132,738 CONVEYER y Martin Engseth, Rte. 2, Box 135N, Wayzata, Minn. Filed Apr. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 101,935 S Claims. (Cl. 198-134) The herein disclosed invention relates to conveyers for conveying granular material such as grain, sugar, etc., and has for an object to provide a conveyer adapted to handle large quantities of the material and one in whichthe material may be completely removed from the conveyer without the use of costly belt trippers or other special devices.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a conveyer which can convey material in both directions simultaneously.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a conveyer which could be used with bottom discharge mechanism. p

In carrying out the invention a V-shaped trough having converging inclined sides sloping downwardly and with means forming an elongated crotch therebetween is employed together with a belt having a substantially vertical run disposed in said trough and with its lowermost edge following along said crotch.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings: Y

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a conveyer illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.`

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. l.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a modiiicationof the invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of still another form of the invention.

The invention is housed within housing A and which includes a head end case 10, a tail end case 11 and legs 12 and 13. The case 10 consists of a top 14, a bottom 15 and an arcuate wall 16 connected to said top and bottom. The case 11 is similar in construction and includes a top-17, a bottom 18, andan arcuate wall 19 connected will be described. This leg is constructediof sheetmetal to form two converging downwardly sloping sidesY 21and 22 which meet at their lower edgesto provide an elongated crotch 23. Crotch 23 is substantially V-shapedin form and forms a continuation of the V-shapedarranged sides 21 and 22. Extending upwardly from the sides2'1 p and 22 are vertical wallswhich are closed by means of a cover 26 overlying the upper. ends lof the same andformed with ila-ages 27 depending downwardly therefromfand secured to said walls in anyl suitable manner;

Operating within' the housing A- is an endless belt30 arranged on edge and provided.with.two runs 31. and32. Run 31 extends through the leg 12 and run SZeXtends through the leg 13. The belt 36v is formed of canvas or some other suitable material which may be` coated with a flexible coating, such as is now in common use.-. This belt has V-shaped edge portions 33 and 34, the .edges 33 resting on and running along the crotch 23 of legs 12 and 13; At the ends of the legs 12 and13 are endplates 42 which have slots 43 therein and through which the runs 31 and 32' of the belt 30 pass. Feet 84 attached to theseplates support the conveyer at the'desired elevation.

The belt 30 passes about a pulley 35. disposed in 'case 10 and which is mounted on a shaft 36. Shaft 36isjornaled in bearings 37 and 38 attached to the top 14.and bottom 15 of case 10. The pulley 35 is` driven from a motor 36 containing reduction gearing and which is mounted on a bracket 28 secured to the wall 16 of case 10. A sprocket Wheel 37 is mounted on the shaft of motor 36. A chain 39-pas`ses over this sprocket wheel and over another sprocket wheel 41 fast on the shaft 3.6L Pulley 35 is somewhat greater in diameter than the distance between the slots 43 of the end plates 42 of the legs 12 and 13 to give suiiicient wrap of the belt aboutthe same to produce suiiicient traction to drive thebelt. For guiding the belt into these slots, idler pulleys 44 and 45 are employed which are mounted on shafts 46andVv 47, journaled in bearings 48 attached to the top 14` and bottom 15 of case 10. y

The belt 30 also passes about a pulley 51, disposedrin the case 11 andmounted on a shaft 52. This shaft is journaled in bearings 53 connected to two belttighteners 54 operating between said bearings and brackets-SSvat- .the belt 30 are supported by and run along theelongated crotches 23, and'that the runs 31 and 32 thereof when within the legs 12 and 13'remain in a substantially vertical position. The arrangement shown in FIG. 1 permits the material to be conveyed in two directions simultaneously. When the pulley 35 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow, thel material travels to the right in leg 12 as viewed'in FIG. 4, and to the left in leg 13'.

At desired positions along the legs 12 andi 13 and particularly atthe ends thereon in whichfthe runs of saidbelt enter legs 12 and 13, are provided inlet openings 57, best shown in FIG'. 3. These openings are surrounded by ttings 58 and which have flanges 59 extending outwardly therefrom and to whichsuitableeconduits` orspouts may be connected for directing: the materialto be conveyed .into the conveyer.

Vby means of,- two gates 62; and 63; YEnclosirrg the two .gates 62 and 63,y are cover plates 65 w-lnclha1eV attached to the walls24V and 25 of :the said leg and-iwhich'- extend considerably below. the crotch 23'. |lhese plateshave outwardly'eXtend-ing" iianges 66; and to whichspou'ts or conduits .may be attached for Vleading the material conveyed away from` the conveyer. The gatesA 62 and 63 are attached at their upper edges to shaftsY 64 journa'led' in bearings 59'- formed inthe plates 65- and by means of which said gates are 'guidedfor swingingfpmover'nentlfr'orn the positions shown infull lines-in saidfigure and tothe dotted line positions.` Whenv inY their full lineV positions, theV opening 61 is closed'an'd when in their dotted liner position, the opening is fully open. The gates` 62 and 63, when closed', form a crotch S6 lying in continuation of the crotch 23 and along which the lower edge 33 of the belt 30 may travel, the same as along the crotch 23.

For the opening and closing the gates 62 and d3, arms 68 and 69 are attached to the shaits 64 and project outwardly therefrom. Beneath the run i2 is mounted a fluid operated cylinder-piston device 7d having a cylinder 71 and a piston rod 7-2 extending outwardly through an end of said cylinder and connected to a piston not shown. Arm 68 is connected by means of a connector 73 to the end of the piston rod 72 while arm 69 is pivotally connected to a lug 74 extending outwardly therefrom the lopposite end of the cilynder. Conduits T and 76 lead to the opposite ends of the cylinder and when iuid under pressure is directed into the device, the said cylinder and piston travel relative to each other from the iiull line position to the dotted line position shown in FiG. 4 moving the gates 62. and 63- from closing position to opening position.

In FIG. 5 I have shown a modiiication of the invention in which the material will be conveyed in one direction only. The construction shown in FlG. 5 being similar to that shown in FiG. l the description thereof will not be repeated. The same reference numerals will, however, be used to designate the corresponding parts. In this form of the invention, the leg 13 is dispensed with and a guard Si is used in place thereof. This guard is attached to the wall 25 of leg 12 by means of a depending ange 182 `formed thereon. Guard 8i terminates in a crotch 83 at the lower most portion of the same and in which the lower edge 33 of the run 32 of the belt 3? travels.

In FIG. 6 has been shown a variation of the invention in which the crotch is formed as a separate elongated Pstrip of material which may' be an extrusion or some other form of construction wherein greater thickness can be procured. The sides 2 and 22 fallnshort of one another and are attached to this crotch in -a manner such that the inner surface of said crotch and the inner surfaces of said sides lie in continuation of one another. This construction .takes up the wear resulting from the lower edge 33 of thebelt engaging and traveling along the crotch and gives greater life to the conveyor.

The operation of the invention is as follows: When the material tto be conveyed is deposited into the leg l2 through the inlet opening 57, the same slides downwardly along the sides 21 and 22 oi said leg until it engages the belt 30. The runs of the belt through friction with the material being conveyed, convey the material until it is discharged through one of the discharge mechanisms 60. All of the material is caused to move throughout the operation of the conveyor so as to procure rapid conveying of the same. As the lilow of material diminishes the material slides down the sides 21 and 22 and is irnmediately brought in contact with the belt 30 and conveyed by the same. In this manner all of the material in the legs of the conveyor is removed from the same.

The advantages of the invention are manifest. The conveyor will handle a large variety of material such as grains, ground feeds, seeds, flax, corn, soybeans, sugar, salt, spices, nuts, dry chemicals and in fact any free flowing material. The conveyor is self cleaning. No contamination of material in the gates and other parts of the conveyor since the material is completely removed from the conveyer. The conveyer is silent, there being no olatter of Scrapers, flights, or chain. The `conveyer can be constructed at a nominal expense. Wear of the parts is a minimum and the life of the conveyer is greatly increased over lthat of other conveyers now on the markeit. The conveyer embodying the instant invention uses a minimum amount of power.

Changes in the specic form of the invention, as herein described, may be made within the scope of what isV claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected Iby Letters Patent is:

l. A conveyor for conveying granular materials comprising: a horizontal trough having converging elongated sides sloping downwardly and inwardly to define an elongated crotch, said trough supporting such granular materials yto he conveyed and having a discharge opening in the lowerv portion thereof; closure means supported by said trough for closing said opening; guide means guiding said closure means between positions of closing said opening and being disposed away from said opening to permit discharge of such granular material through said opening; a hat continuous and unobstructed vertically extending belt having .-two 'continuous surfaces for trictionally engaging such granular materials, the lower edge of said belt being slidably supported by said elongated crotch and having its upper edge substantially centrally disposed between said sides of said trough, said converging sides and crotch cooperatively urging such granular material into engagement with both surfaces of said belt to continuously convey such granular material therealong to said discharge opening thereby imparting a positive and continuous moving action to such granular material 4when said belt is being driven;v and driving means drivingly supporting said at belt to move said belt throughsaid trough past said discharge opening.

2. The invention as set forth in claim l wherein said closure means includes gate means overlying said opening 3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said gate means is pivotally connected to said trough and guide means.

4. A conveyor for conveying granular materials cornprising: a horizontal trough having converging elongated sides sloping downwardly and inwardly to define an elongated crotch, said .trough supporting such granular materials to be conveyed; a dat continuous and unobstructed vertically extending belt having two continuous surfaces for frictionally engaging such granular materials, the lower edge of said belt lbeing slidably supported by said elongated crotch and having its upper edge substantially centrally disposed between said sides of said trough, said' stantially V-shaped `and said belt extends vertically above said trough sides.

6. IIihe invention as set forth in claim 4 wherein said lower edge of said belt conforms with the inner surface of sm'd crotch.

7. A `conveyor' for conveying granular materialscom- 'prising: a horizontal trough having converging elongated sides sloping downwardly and inwardly; means at the lower most portions of said sides dening an elongated crotch, said means and said trough supporting such granularmaterials to be conveyed; a hat continuous and unobstructed vertically extending belt having two continuous surfaces'for frictionally engaging suchgranular materials,

the lower edge of said belt being slidably supported by said means defining an elongated crotch and having its upper edge substantially centrally disposed between said sides of said trough, said converging sides and said means deii'ning said' crotch cooperatively urging such granular material into engagement with both surfaces of said belt n t to continuously convey such granular material therealong thereby impanting a positive and continuous moving action to such granular material when said belt is being driven; and driving means drivingly supporting said llat belt to move said belt through said trough.

8. The invention as set fonth in claim 7 wherein said trough sides slope downwardly and inwardly vat substantially the same angle with a vertical `and said means dening said elongated crotch having inner surfaces merging into the inner surfaces of said sides.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 405,608 Selleck June 18, 1.889

6 Garland Ian. 14, 1902 Redler May 31, 1932 Cave Apr. 26, 193:8 Cooper et al. Aug. 26, 1941 Rubin Aug. 9, 1955 Kemper Mar. 27, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Aug. 8, 1924 Germany Oct. 23, 1958 

1. A CONVEYOR FOR CONVEYING GRANULAR MATERIALS COMPRISING: A HORIZONTAL TROUGH HAVING CONVERGING ELONGATED SIDES SLOPING DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY TO DEFINE AN ELONGATED CROTCH, SAID TROUGH SUPPORTING SUCH GRANULAR MATERIALS TO BE CONVEYED AND HAVING A DISCHARGE OPENING IN THE LOWER PORTION THEREOF; CLOSURE MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID TROUGH FOR CLOSING SAID OPENING; GUIDE MEANS GUIDING SAID CLOSURE MEANS BETWEEN POSITIONS OF CLOSING SAID OPENING AND BEING DISPOSED AWAY FROM SAID OPENING TO PERMIT DISCHARGE OF SUCH GRANULAR MATERIAL THROUGH SAID OPENING; A FLAT CONTINUOUS AND UNOBSTRUCTED VERTICALLY EXTENDING BELT HAVING TWO CONTINUOUS SURFACES FOR FRICTIONALLY ENGAGING SUCH GRANULAR MATERIALS, THE LOWER EDGE OF SAID BELT BEING SLIDABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID ELONGATED CROTCH AND HAVING ITS UPPER EDGE SUBSTANTIALLY CENTRALLY DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID SIDES OF SAID TROUGH, SAID CONVERGING SIDES AND CROTCH COOPERATIVELY URGING SUCH GRANULAR MATERIAL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH BOTH SURFACES OF SAID BELT TO CONTINUOUSLY CONVEY SUCH GRANULAR MATERIAL THEREALONG TO SAID DISCHARGE OPENING THEREBY IMPARTING A POSITIVE AND CONTINUOUS MOVING ACTION TO SUCH GRANULAR MATERIAL WHEN SAID BELT IS BEING DRIVEN; AND DRIVING MEANS DRIVINGLY SUPPORTING SAID FLAT BELT TO MOVE SAID BELT THROUGH SAID TROUGH PAST SAID DISCHARGE OPENING. 